Strategies for Serving Individuals
with Frequent Justice System
Involvement
A Joint Meeting of the
City of San José Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee and the
County of Santa Clara Public Safety and Justice Committee February 15, 2024
2.b. Strategies for Serving Individuals with
Frequent Justice System Involvement:
Strategies After Detention
Strategies After Detention
Presenters
Gabby Olivarez, SCC Behavioral
Health Services Department
Brandon Cabrera, SCC District
Attorney’s Office
Gilda Valeros, SCC Public
Defender’s Office
Allison Gomez, SCC Public
Defender’s Office
Meghan Piano, SCC Public
Defender’s Office
Mental Health Treatment Court (MHTC)
(Collaborative Courts @ Family Justice Center – Department 60-62) • WHAT IS IT: Supervision and judicial oversight of treatment for all mental health (MH), substance dependent, and co-occurring justice involved individuals in Santa Clara County receiving services locally. All programs in MHTC involve collaboration between District Attorney’s Office (DAO), Public Defender’s Office (PDO), Behavior Health Services Department, Program Providers, Probation, and the Courts. • GOALS:
1. Ensure public Safety through evidence-based practices that show treatment improves outcomes over incarceration.
2. Promote rehabilitation through Individualized, sustained and flexible Wraparound services to those in need.
3. Reduce recidivism in a collaborative setting that affirms individual rights and dignities. 43
Programs in MHTC
✓ MH Probation: Probation with Mental Health supervision component. ✓ MH Diversion (TRACK 1) (Penal Code [PC] 1001.36): Pre-plea diversion program for MH clients
✓ TRACK 2: Felony 1368 (incompetent) client who is not sent to Dept. State Hospital (DSH) to regain competency, but rather diverted to MHTC. ✓ TRACK 3: All misdemeanor 1368 cases in SCC now go directly to MHTC for treatment and supervision.
✓ Veterans/SARC Court (PC 1001.8 & PC 1001.20)– Supervision and diversion programs for Veterans and Developmentally Disabled clients. ✓ YADEJ (PC 1000.7) – “Young Adult Deferred Entry of Judgment,” is a diversion program supervised by probation for clients under the age of 22, charged with nonserious/non-violent felonies. ✓ AOT – “Assisted Outpatient Treatment” (Laura’s Law)
✓ ARC – “Accountability, Recovery, Community,” is a diversion program for low level drugs cases. 44
45 582
Aftercare
CRT
CoOccurring
FACT
FSP
SUTS
(RRC)
Evans Lane
OP
Evans Lane
Residential
THU
IOP
FY2023
Annual Clients Served
Track 1, Track 2 and
Track 3
MHTC by the Numbers
46 PDO & DAO Efforts to Increase Early Representation
CAMP
Custody Alternatives &
Mental Health Programs
PARR
Pre-Arraignment
Representation & Review Unit
✓ Public Defender meets with individuals booked in jail w/in 24-48 hours of arrest.
PDO gets a personal history, medical & mental health history, & begins to develop a release plan that will support the individual and protect public safety ✓ Public defender contacts DAO for PARR Consideration – agreement upon release, review of the filing decision, mitigating factors, so work can be done outside busy arraignment calendar
✓ District Attorney receives referrals of recently arrested individuals from PDO, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Behavior Health; Reviews cases for potential early release, filing determinations, and expedited referrals to collaborative court prior to arraignment.
• GOALS:
❖ Target appropriate treatment and alternative custody programs early in process Create individualized release plans that will support a safe release from custody ❖ Reduce unneeded incarceration after arrest 47
COMPARATIVE OUTCOME ANALYSIS
California Policy Lab, UC Berkeley
27% Less Likely to Be Convicted
36% Higher Chance of Case Dismissal
PARR Participants spend 23 FEWER days in jail
COMPARATIVE OUTCOME ANALYSIS
PARR vs. Non-PARR Treatment
California Policy Lab, UC Berkeley
48 https://www.capolicylab.org/providing-early-legal-counsel-reduces-jail-time-and-improves-caseoutcomes/ Establish an Early-Intervention
Mental Health Courtroom
With Collaboration by
Public Safety & Justice System Partners
49 Safety Through Wellness Mental Health Courtroom
GOALS:
❖At the outset of case, provide interdisciplinary intervention for our most vulnerable clients
❖Reducing the incarceration of individuals due to mental illness ❖Provide WRAPAROUND services earlier in court process that focuses on stabilization, medication compliance and public safety
❖Safely return incarcerated mental health clients to the community with improved lives and prospects for community engagement
❖Achieved by SCC system partners working together
(PDO, DAO, Behavioral Health, Custody Health, Pretrial
Services, and the Superior Court)
50